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A compilation of data by the Capital Journal shows that South Dakotas COVID-19 infection rate is nearly four times higher than West Virginias yet while West Virginias Republican governor imposed an indoor face covering mandate this week, South Dakotas fiercely resists such action.

President Donald Trump remains relatively popular in deep red South Dakota after winning the states three Electoral College votes by 30 points over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

If there is anywhere Trump may be more popular than he is in South Dakota, however, it might be West Virginia. There in 2016, Trump defeated Clinton by an astounding 41 points.

Both states are well-known for country life, as places where gun ownership rates exceed the national average. While South Dakota has far more farmers than coal miners or factory workers and West Virginia is known for mountains rather than prairies the spirit of grit, hard work and independence permeates the culture of both states.

However, there now seems to be one key difference in the two states. On Monday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice issued the order masks to be worn while inside indoor public places amid the COVID battle.

On Thursday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reemphasized her position that there should be no mask mandate. Noem did so in responding to a question on Twitter: Should there be a national mask mandate?

No. People should have the freedom to wear masks if it makes them feel safe, but the science on masks is very mixed, Noem tweeted.

This followed last weeks declaration from Noem that there would be no social distancing during the Independence Day fireworks display at Mount Rushmore.

Raw Data

The data below are mined from the South Dakota Department of Health, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the U.S. Census Bureau. The COVID numbers were effective as of Friday evening.

South Dakota:

Trumps 2016 victory spread over Clinton: 30 points

COVID tests administered 88,542

Confirmed COVID cases 7,401

Persons per square mile (population density) 10.7

Percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance 11.6%

West Virginia:

Trumps 2016 victory spread over Clinton: 41 points

COVID tests administered 199,383

Confirmed COVID cases 3,882

Persons per square mile (population density) 77.1

Percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance 7.9%

Conclusions

If the information provided by both states is correct, it means the following:

COVID-19 infection rate:

South Dakota 1 of every 120 residents has been infected.

West Virginia 1 of every 462 residents has been infected.

This means that South Dakotas COVID-19 infection rate is nearly four times higher than West Virginias.

This is somewhat offset by West Virginias population density being much higher than South Dakotas. In other words, because West Virginia has more people in a tighter area, their likelihood of contracting COVID-19 would be higher in comparison to those in South Dakota.

I know its an inconvenience, but its not going to be much of an inconvenience, Justice said upon announcing West Virginias mask requirement. If you dont decide to wear the face covering for yourself, if you dont decide to wear it for one of your loved ones or your friends, do it for the 95 West Virginians that have died, do it for the 95 people that weve lost.

Despite Noems independence, her own Department of Health maintains the following phase very clearly on its website: Everyone should wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who dont live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

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Data show South Dakota's COVID infection rate nearly 4 times higher than West Virginia's - The Capital Journal